Opinion: How to address sexual harassment in politics: Elect more women

To the editor: In the wake of the avalanche of sexual harassment claims, there is one common denominator: men. Of course, this may be a function of who is in power. (“In an emotional speech on the Senate floor, Al Franken says he’ll resign amid allegations of sexual misdeeds,” Dec. 7)

Studies have shown that cultural and behavioral changes in the workplace show substantial change when women occupy more than 20% of management positions. Women look at things differently. Not surprisingly, it was Democratic women senators leading the charge against Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.).

Sexual harassment should not be a partisan issue, yet Republican men seem to be missing from the discussion of sexual inappropriateness. Instead, the party is supporting Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.

I agree with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.): “We as elected leaders should absolutely be held to a higher standard, not a lower standard, and we should fundamentally be valuing women.”

If Congress reflected our population, it would be 51% women. Things will be very different when we reach this goal of equal voice and power.

Susan Fredericks, Calabasas

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To the editor: We have launched a 21st century reign of terror. Any accusation is a death sentence. We are now “dumbing down” sexual misbehavior.

We will eventually get over this, but there will be some unfortunate wreckage along the way. We will eventually learn to distinguish “watch me play with myself” from a hand thoughtlessly placed during a photo op.

We will eventually understand that the question we should be asking about Moore’s alleged interest in young girls is how it may have influenced his handling of child sex abuse charges when he was a district attorney and a judge. But it will take us some time to get there.

I do not mean to dismiss this issue. I have been the target of sexual misbehavior. But we have to learn the difference between random boorish behavior by unthinking people and systematic power plays by the Harvey Weinsteins of this world. There are many more important, subtle, and insidious ways the law and bullies of both genders ignore and diminish women.

Removing the accused “predators” from business and politics is not the end of the battle — it is just the beginning.

June Ailin Sewell, Marina del Rey

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